Utah Father Killed in Avalanche While Snowmobiling With Son
MIDWAY, Utah — An avalanche killed a man who was snowmobiling with his minor son Wednesday in Wasatch County. According to the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office the slide was reported about 4 p.m. in the Big Flats area west of Midway, between Snake Creek and the Ant Knolls area.
Investigators said the man and his son were riding in the area when the avalanche occurred. Search and Rescue teams and sheriff’s deputies responded but were unable to reach the slide site because of hazardous avalanche conditions.
The boy used an avalanche beacon to locate his father and dug him out of the snow, officials said. The man died in the avalanche. The Sheriff’s Office and the Utah Avalanche Center are investigating.
“Our heartfelt condolences go out to the victim’s family and loved ones during this difficult time,” the Utah Avalanche Center said in a statement. The Sheriff’s Office echoed that sentiment and praised the efforts of the boy and first responders.
The death is Utah’s first avalanche fatality of 2026. It followed a winter storm that brought heavy snow to higher elevations. Officials warned of increased avalanche danger as new snow accumulated on weak layers formed during a prolonged dry spell. The Utah Avalanche Center reported 20 avalanches in the previous 24 hours, nine of them human-triggered.
Forecasters said avalanche danger remains high and advised people heading into the backcountry to avoid slopes steeper than 30 degrees and to carry avalanche rescue equipment. They also urged recreationists to check conditions on the Utah Avalanche Center website before traveling in avalanche-prone terrain.
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